On this page: Beginnings | Congregation Grows | Sanctuary Built | Architecture | Middle Years | Current Leadership

The History of the Church of Saint Clement

Over Half A Century of Ministry

In 2003, the Church of St. Clement celebrated its 60th year of ministry in the City of Alexandria, Virginia and South Arlington. A small (200-member) Episcopal church well-known for its social activism, the parish looks back in celebration of its important milestones while moving forward to meet its next phase of ministry.

Renewed Vision

In the early 1990s, as the Church of St. Clement faced the need to make repairs to the church facility, members of the parish felt a growing call to update key aspects of the sanctuary's design. Their goal was to retain the core of the original architectural vision, while adding an element of enlightenment to carry the facility into the new century ahead.

After lengthy study, discussion and prayerful consideration, the congregation agreed to redesign the lighting and add a guide light focusing on the cross, symbolizing the light leading from the cross to God and emphasizing the sense of drawing together as a family at the altar. This work began in early 1992 and is scheduled for completion by mid-year of our 50th year as a congregation.

Beginnings

The Church of St. Clement held its first service on Christmas Eve 1943. The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia established the church to meet the needs of the people in the new housing areas developed to support wartime Washington. Gasoline was scarce, presenting an opportunity to begin a new church in the area to which residents from the north Alexandria and south Arlington developments could walk.

Congregation Grows

In early 1944, the congregation built a chapel in which to worship, somehow obtaining building materials despite scarcity caused by World War II. The chapel, set in a pine grove, was known locally as the "chapel in the woods". The original structure, slightly modified, is now the parish hall. The church grew quickly and attained independent congregation status by mid-1945.

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Sanctuary Built

The first rector of the young Church of Saint Clement, the Reverend Darby Wood Betts, was a graduate student of liturgy and ecclesiastical architecture. Under his vision, the vestry agreed to build a 400-seat sanctuary. The church chose an innovative, contemporary style designed by architect Joseph Saunders. Bishop Goodwin broke ground for the new structure on May 22, 1947, and the first service was held in the nearly completed church on Easter 1948. Enthusiastic parishioners had done much of the interior work.

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Innovative and Unique Architecture

The Church of St. Clement received much accolade for its architectural vision. It was the first church in the Anglican Communion to have the altar in the center of the sanctuary and as late as 1950 was the only one of its type in the world.

To this day, worshipers enter the building under a great white and gold mosaic cross. The sanctuary of the church both represents the kingdom of God and directs the thoughts of worshipers to the presence of God. A massive cross hangs over a granite altar in the center of the room, so that, like the earliest Christians, our celebration of the Holy Eucharist literally unites us around the Altar of God. The original lighting design simulated the night sky, shutting out the world for a time to emphasize the mystery of God; as a result, there are no windows in the church sanctuary.

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Middle Years

In September 1950, the Rev. Betts accepted a professorship in Theology at Columbia University. The Church of St. Clement selected the Rev. Maurice Henry "Hoppy" Hopson as its second rector, and benefited greatly from his 23-year tenure. Hoppy helped us broaden our vision to include liturgical arts, and the Church of St. Clement frequently hosted world premiere performances of plays and dramas, and concerts of world-renowned choirs. Although he never married, Hoppy helped us see that our corporate vision had excluded children and youth, and he helped parishioners foster their vision for Christian education into the Parish Day School (an organization that thrives to this day). This sense of ministry to and by the youngest members of our community began during Hoppy's tenure, as did the seeds of our ministry of inclusion: the church began a Brotherhood of St. Andrew chapter of this interracial men's Christian organization; the women of the parish were equal members to the extent allowed by Canon law; and our connection with the liturgical arts community added a new dimension to our parish, which until then had been largely military members living in Fairlington and ParkFairfax.

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In May 1958, the parish decided to construct an educational building, which it completed in December 1960. This structure originally housed classrooms, offices, and the Children's Chapel. The Rev. Hopson retired in April 1973 following a coronary attack. His successor, the Rev. Richard L. Corkran, became rector of the Church of St. Clement in June 1974. Shortly thereafter, the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) began a Thrift Shop and church library on the premises, both of which continue to be a great success today. Another highlight on this period was the ordination in the Church of St. Clement of the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, the parish curate, on May 1, 1979.

Our fourth rector, Rosemari Gaughan Sullivan, was the second woman rector in the Diocese of Virginia. She arrived on St. Francis' Day 1987 and brought new life to our parish. In 1989, the congregation of Meade Memorial joined us in worship while their church was being renovated. Strangers from different races and places and Altar Guilds became friends. It was a wonderful Christian experience. God had sent three architects to the parish in time to help us see that our aging plant needed major renovation and repair. Rosemari's visionary gift to us was to help us return to our roots, to be a contemporary, Eucharisticly centered community and we learned to open our hearts and our 'home' to whomever God has brought our way. Our nave became a sanctuary in the literal sense as we became a shelter in winter and we helped create transitional support in our city for the homeless and for those bereft of hope. Rosemari left in November1998 to become Secretary of the Church and Executive Officer of General Convention.

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Current leadership

The Rev. John Hortum became our fifth rector in October 2000. He is helping us discern new ways to live our ministry and to be church to each other. John sees his role primarily one of being a 'ministry maker'. He believes that God has brought us together to be His church and we are poised to listen together to God with new expectations. "We must meet in a way that is enlivening", he says, "otherwise, church is just more stuff. My goal is to make the Church of St. Clement a sanctuary for clemency, a safe place to be our 'best selves' with the active mercy of God. I see us as being real apostles outside the walls of our church building."

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